The last time Kinston met Jacksonville Northside, the Vikings lost by four points after leading at halftime.

Saturday, the two teams will square off again in the NCHSAA 2A Eastern Regional final at Fayetteville’s Crown Arena at noon.

“I remember we were up 10 at halftime, we went in the zone and then they hit two or three 3s in a row to bring them back,” recalled Kinston senior guard Andrew Lopez about the summer matchup with the Monarchs. “From there, they had the momentum … and we couldn’t get it back.”

After defeating Kinston in the East Coast Invitational in July, Northside (23-3) went on to win the ECI title and become the first Onslow Countyteam to win the tournament, according to the Jacksonville Daily News.

Though Lopez said Kinston (24-5) has since changed with “more players that can come off the bench, score and play defense,” the Monarchs enter Saturday’s contest with an extra motivational factor.

It’s their first time on the regional championship stage.

Last year, Northside fell to Fairmont in a close 65-62 decision in the semifinal after giving up a 17-0 run to end the game.

For the Vikings, it’s their eighth consecutive trip to the final, and they are 5-2 in those games entering today’s contest.

Four of those visits turned into eventual state titles for the Vikings.

“This has been a new experience for this group because it’s just a different group,” Kinston coach Perry Tyndall said. “Every year, the team’s a different make up. Leadership is different. They’ve found a way to get things done this year that haven’t been the same way last year.”

Losing Josh Dawson and Denzel Keyes to graduation last season, a new assembly of Vikings leaders formed in captains Brandon Ingram and Lopez.

Page 2 of 2 - Ingram, one of the nation’s top juniors, averages a team-best 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds this year. Lopez scores 11.8 and junior Darnell Dunn is the third peg of Kinston’s double-figure club with 10.7.

Two Northside seniors lead the scoring corps in Davion Ayabarreno (16.8) and Josh Cabrera.

“We know Northside is a good team just like us,” Ingram said Friday after practice. “They have a lot of size and athleticism and they can play. We’re going to take everybody the same way.”

Even after downing the east’s top seed Wednesday night, Kinston understands one bad night can send you home, Tyndall said.

The Vikings, he said, don’t focus on seeding.

“This time of year, one game can be the difference between you moving on or your season ending,” Tyndall said. “Trinity had the 1 seed, but really our guys, look at it as the next team. You cannot have a bad night now or else, we’re putting our stuff up.”

This time last year, the Kinston boys were competing for a championship alongside the girls program, whose season ended in a heartbreaking 57-56 loss to High Point Andrews.

After eliminating Trinity Wednesday night, the guys remained in the gym to watch the Lady Vikings.

“I hope our guys can identify with (the girls) in that moment to think about, ‘I don’t want my season to end tomorrow,” Tyndall said. “There’s a lot of kids in the state of North Carolina that would love to be in a regional final and our kids are, so I hope we enjoy the moment, have fun and play well.”

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.